Dr. Anil Chawla, chief medical officer for Franciscan Health Michigan City; Carlos Vasquez, COO and vice president of Franciscan Health Rensselaer; Dr. Lindsay Weaver, Indiana Department of Health commissioner and Dr. Daniel McCormick, Franciscan Health Crown Point president and CEO, gathered Oct. 4 for a discussion about maternal/fetal health in Indiana at Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville. (Photo courtesy of Franciscan Health/HANDOUT)
Indiana 249 ramp to U.S. 12 to close
Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co Inc will close the ramp from southbound Indiana 249/Port of Indiana to U.S. 12 on or after Nov. 3. The ramp in Portage will remain closed through the end of December. Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will be to follow southbound Indiana 249 to eastbound U.S. 20 to northbound Indiana 149. This closure is for pre-work in advance of a contract to both reconstruct the Indiana 249 bridge over U.S. 12 and build a second bridge. Major construction on that contract will begin in the spring of 2024.
Revolutionary War demonstration set for Nov. 4 in Valparaiso
The Porter County Museum will sponsor a living-history demonstration featuring interpreters portraying participants in the Revolutionary War from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 4. The event will be held on the lawn at the southeast corner of the Porter County Courthouse Square in Valparaiso (Franklin Street and Indiana Avenue), just opposite the museum. There is no admission charge.
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The organizer of the demonstration is veteran living-history interpreter Ian Baker of Michigan City. “Our reenactors come from all over the Midwest,” he said. “They have spent years researching their historical roles, gathering artifacts, reproducing period clothing, and learning to share their knowledge with the public. We expect to have interpreters representing British soldiers, the Continental Army, and citizen militia units. Each will offer a display of the personal effects, weaponry, and equipment that soldiers would have carried at the time. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and interact with the interpreters.”
“While Porter County wasn’t settled by Europeans until decades after the Revolution,” said Director Kevin Matthew Pazour, “we did have a military engagement on our soil in 1780, at a place called Petit Fort, near what is now Indiana Dunes State Park. The small skirmish involved British defenders, American militiamen, and indigenous supporters on both sides. It’s a minor event in the larger context of the Revolution but a fascinating addition to our local history.”
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U.S. 20 to have temporary closure for repairs
The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a temporary road closure for U.S. 20 between Tremont Rd and Hadenfelt Rd/C.R. N 150 E in Porter County starting Sunday. The road will be closed for approximately two days for repairs. Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow Indiana 49, I-94 and U.S. 421.
Mrvan announces child care access grant
U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D- Highland, recently announced a federal grant award for University of Saint Francis under the Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School program, according to a release.
According to the Department of Education, University of Saint Francis will receive $65,700 for their Crown Point site to partner with area child care centers to provide high-quality child care for the children of student parents in order to develop a robust system to support the families of student parents and improve recruitment, retention and graduation rates, the release said.
“This assistance in childcare for our students who are parents is greatly appreciated,” University of Saint Francis Interim President Dr. Lance Richey said.
Franciscan Health hosts discussion on maternal/fetal health
Franciscan Health’s Prenatal Assistance Program held an event on Oct. 4 with Indiana Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver and Franciscan medical staff focused on maternal/fetal health.
Weaver said Indiana’s infant mortality rate is 6.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is higher than the national average of 5.4. Weaver acknowledged Indiana’s data on infant mortality is sobering, but said her goal is to use comprehensive data at the county and state level to identify where help is needed most. The top cause of death for Indiana infants is perinatal risks or conditions that originate during pregnancy, the birth process or soon after birth, Weaver said, and 79.3% of pregnancy-associated deaths in Indiana are deemed preventable. The data shows non-Hispanic Black women and children are at the greatest risk.
Franciscan Health’s Prenatal Assistance Program serves expectant women and parenting families with children younger than age 1. The program has served more than 3,000 women to date in 2023. Services include the operation of four diaper pantries in Crown Point, Hammond, Michigan City and Rensselaer. Information on Prenatal Assistance Program services for those in need is available by calling 1-877-PRE-NATL. Donations to the Prenatal Assistance Program can be made online through the Franciscan Health Foundation’s website or by calling (219) 661-3401.
Northwest Health – Porter earns surgical distinction
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana has selected Northwest Health – Porter as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, according to a release.
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Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, the release said. For more information, visit NWHealthIN.com.
PNW Innovators announce the 2023 award winners
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has announced winners of the 2023 Innovators Awards, according to a release.
The selection committee examined and analyzed the innovation(s) each individual and team nominee was responsible for in order to guide final decision-making, the release said. Each winner was expected to be inducted into the Society of Innovators during the annual luncheon on Oct. 19.
The Society of Innovators Class of 2023 includes:
Individual: Alejandra Alaniz (Valparaiso) – Owner, Tracktable Lifestyle
Teams: Coates Inc. (Merrillville): Catisha Toney, Lolita Wilson; Hammond Group (Hammond): Thomas Wojcinski, Gordon Beckley, Richard Botts, Gary Dean Botts II, Enqin Gao, Perry Hedge, Perry Dewayne Hedge II, Daniel Loosemore, Terry Murphy, Pete Nikoloski, Andrew Reynolds, James Shearouse; PowderCoil Technologies (Crown Point): Robert McShane, Maggie Beauchamp, Alexander Duchak, Janice Hickey, Parakh Kantawala, Jeremy Murray, Steve Murray
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Advocate for Innovation: Northwest Indiana Forum (Portage): Heather Ennis, Don Babcock, Erika Dombey, Brian Hittinger, Kay Nelson, Pete Novak, Tony Oss, Raeann Trakas